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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -43.63285, 170.50307. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 25 km | 32 km one way
- Walking time
- 8 hr | 11 hr
- Track grade
- Expert
- Location
- Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Walk or mountain bike up the Godley valley to Red Stag Hut and Godley Hut.
This DOC directory entry covers Godley River Route in Canterbury, within Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 25 km | 32 km one way
- Walking time: 8 hr | 11 hr
- DOC grade: Expert
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Lilybank Road to Red Stag Hut
Time: 8 hrDistance: 25 km
Keep to the 4WD track initially as this is a public access easement through private farmland. You will pass a sign for Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park when you reach the park boundary. Red Stag Hut is very small so carry a tent in case the hut is full.
Four wheel driving: The track is popular with 4WD vehicles due to the long distances to each hut. Keep to the track.
Horse riding: This track travels along stony flats.
Mountain biking: Mountain biking into Red Stag Hut is a rougher ride than to Macaulay Hut. Mountain bikers can continue up Godley valley as far as Separation Stream, which is where the 4WD track ends.
Red Stag Hut to Godley Hut
Time: 3 hrDistance: 7 km
The track is generally well-formed to Separation Stream. From here it is an unmarked route to Godley Hut and you need to be an experienced tramper to find the way within the glacial moraines.
Getting there
To reach the start of the track you need to cross Macaulay River first. This can be a difficult crossing in periods of high rainfall or snowmelt. Another option is to leave your vehicle at the end of Lilybank Road in the designated parking area and cross the river on foot.
Know before you go
The Godley river 4WD route has been destroyed by the river which has moved to the true left above Sibbald Island.
Vehicle travel beyond this point is at your own risk and may involve fording one or more braids of the river. It should not be attempted unless you are capable of self recovery.
Be aware of nesting birds and follow the Braided River Care Code.
Conservation of braided river birds (PDF, 2,181K)
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
